Recipes

May 13, 2010

Mustard Seed Makes Me a Happy Girl

Grammy Orso from Massachusetts arrived Tuesday evening!! Grammy comes down every Spring and every other Christmas. Unfortunately we have to share her with the other half of our family, but it's always exciting when she comes! Grammy's visits typically include a lot of eating out, chocolate chip cookies, and Kelly and I secretly teasing her for getting old. For a grandmother, she's pretty young at just 66 years old. My aunts (more like my sisters) and I keep her in check with reality: she now has a facebook, has learned how to send one text message, and FINALLY learned that you're supposed to keep your cell phone on at all times and not just when you're making calls. (This last lesson took about two years for her to figure out, bless her heart.) She's pretty much the coolest woman in my life because of her cookies, Chicken Marsala, awesome hugs, and the fact that she still calls me her "sunshine" after almost 26 years. I was her first grandchild and I'll always have a special bond with her because of that.

Sappiest post ever.

Onto the food: I met Grammy, Auntie Kelly, and baby cousin Zachary at Mustard Seed in Summerville. Mustard Seed is another one of Sal Parco's creations, with locations in Summerville, Mt. Pleasant, and James Island. The Mustard Seed offers fresh and healthy entrees that include ever-changing specials. They also serve wine, beer, and deadly delicious desserts. If I had to choose, I'd say that Mustard Seed is my favorite local restaurant. The reason for this is that their food is creative, always fresh, and they make great use of seasonal vegetables. They consistently serve great meals and I have never left unsatisfied. Their portions are excellent and fairly priced.

One of my favorite items from their menu is the Mustard Seed Pad Thai: Thai noodles, shrimp, chicken, fish sauce, egg, mushroom, sprouts, peanuts, fresh cilantro & lime. It's not your typical Pad Thai found in Thai restaurants - the sauce is more of a broth than a paste. It tastes a thousand times healthier, and doesn't sit like a brick in your belly. I carbo-loaded like it was the night before a bridge-run on this dish and enjoyed every bit! They serve the Pad Thai with Sriracha hot sauce and chopsticks for those who are feeling hot and, er, sticky.

Pad Thai with a Camelbak cameo:

Both Grammy and Kelly ordered the Crab Cake special: two crab cakes served over a bed of greens with a buttermilk-chive dressing. I'm not typically a fan of crab cakes, but these were delicious! They were really light and soft. The dressing on the salad was also light, but had a creamy taste.

The three of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals, and baby Zachary enjoyed his banana and Sesame Street cinnamon cookie sticks.

Kaye asked "I thought you only BBM?" - Yes, Kaye, I have a severe addiction to BBMing (Blackberry Messaging) but not every one on this planet is fortunate enough to own a Blackberry. SAD FACE. Because some people don't know what "bbming" is, I had to put "text" in my title. Texting is such a throwback activity to Blackberry users, it makes me laugh a little.

Erica challenged me with two questions. She first asked me what my top favorite Charleston restaurants are. That's so tough, but here goes:

Ali asked if when I got my wrist tattoo and if I was glad I got it: I got it when I was the tender age of 18. I don't "regret" it per se, but I don't want it there anymore. I've had it for 8 years and I'm just over it now. Thankfully I can cover it up with a watch so it's not a huge deal. It will be removed eventually though, because I don't want it on me when I have (gasp) children.

Jessica asked if I'm happy with my body and how I've become so comfortable with it. YES, I am happy with my body. Of course I'd like my stomach to be a tiny bit flatter, but I'd never give up my cookies to have that. I am comfortable with myself because I eat right, work my butt off in the gym, and still indulge occasionally. Eye sexing at the gym and compliments from randos don't hurt my confidence either.

And as far as the questions about my exercise go, um...can I give y'all Julius' number? All I know is that he pretty much beats me twice a week. On my own time I do a lot of running, push-ups, weighted lunges, assisted pull-ups/dips, leg curls, vodka curls, cartwheels, and booty dancing. The last three items are essential for my success.

32 comments:

ahhhhhhhhh! I need to go to Mustard seed stat...Josh would love that pad thai. Thanks for answering my questions. You and Josh and ur lurve of chick fila! Lime green is a sweet color- I have the best lime green dress. Any who-hope the rest of your week is totally sweet

Once again yum. I am going to visit my friends in Charleston for Memorial Day and was just telling a friend today about your blog and how we have to go somewhere good to eat. Your Grammy sounds awesome!

OK - you made my mouth water and me cry a little bit at the same time!! Mustard Seed is MY FAVORITE!! After living in Chas all my life and moving to Tampa 1.5 years ago - that's kind of what I miss the most! HA HA ... Not the family - MY MUSTARD SEED!! shhhhhhhh ;)

Your Grammy sounds like one awesome grandmother. Glad you all made it out to dinner together - looked excellent!!And I was so confused about the bbm until you said what it stood for, haha. Yes, yes I do live in a cave...Have fun with your gramm while she's here - update us on how those cookies go

Yeah! We made it on your blog! I read it to Grammy and she got a kick out of it. She said, Does she always write like this? I thought it was just about food!" I think she will start readind it more often now. Haha. Auntie Kelly

Can I just say that I LOVE how you put chick-fil-a on your list?! Love that place. Your pad thai looks phenomenal!! And I have the same green camelback; I'm surprised it hasn't cameo-ed in any of my foodie photos yet!

Your grandma sounds like an awesome woman, I love that she texts!! Funny that your grandma is the same age as my dad...my parents are old, haha. I used to be a BBM addict too, until someone got in a huge fight with me over not responding to their message when they knew I'd recieved it. If only they could get rid of that dang "R" for recieved!

I definitely don't regret my tattoos either. Actually - they're quite addicting... don't know if it was the buzz of the needle or having body art. Hm.

I have 3 - two of which I designed (and they're fruit!). My mom says I'll be that old woman that when they change my diaper in the Old Folks Home, they say: "hey check it out! She has all these dried, shriveled fruit on her!".

Your granny is too funny and so young, that is awesome! My grandma used to do the same thing your granny does with her cell phone too. We were like "keep the phone on grandpa." haha!Your dish looks awesome! Love Pad Thai!

I love my grandmother! She is young too (late 70s), but unfortunately she is not good at traveling anymore. I wish I could see her more often! Sounds like a great time with family! You are too funny with the tattoo. Mine is on my ankle and I want one on my upper back, but now that I am older..I can't decide on something that I would want for the rest of my life. It's weird, since I don't regret the one I got when I was 18 and I woud never change it.

I'm WAY late to post due to vacay but LOVE that your g-ma is only 66 and that you guys have her all current - so cute !That pad thai looks like the bomb and thanks for the Charleston recs- i'll be there in July and want BAsil!!! :)

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About

Spunky individual with a penchant for culinary delights. Lover of all things pickle-related and photographing what goes in my tummy. Likes? Chick-fil-A, Greek yogurt, beets, fiber, baking, and men who are attractive. Dislikes? Waiting for things to finish baking, bad grammar, slow talkers/walkers, being a mess, and people that take up my personal space. Whether I'm spinning at the gym, whipping up tasty treats, or reviewing a Charleston restaurant with fabulous friends, I'm loving every minute of this life.